Focus: The resources for this unit (Medieval Islamic Empires) are part of the individual resources titled Early Islamic Civilization and African Kingdoms. This unit (Unit 4 for schools using the CKHG series in Sequence grade-level order) explains the historical significance of Muhammad and the origins of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. Students learn about the importance of the Koran and the Five Pillars of Islam. Students also learn about the achievements of Muslim scholars and artists and the growth of Muslim empires. The unit concludes with a brief account of the Crusades, the long series of wars during the Middle Ages in which European Christians attempted to retake control of the Holy Land and other formerly Christian territories in the Middle East.
Number of Lessons: 9
Lesson Time: 45 minutes each daily. Each lesson may be divided into shorter segments.
Additional Search Terms: Mecca • Ibn Sina (Avicenna) • Saladin • Richard the Lionhearted
CKHG Grade Levels: CKHG units are correlated to topics at the grade levels specified in the Core Knowledge Sequence, which allows students in schools following the Sequence to build knowledge grade by grade. In other settings, individual CKHG units may be used as supplemental resources. In general, the content and presentation in the CKHG units for Grades 3-5 are appropriate for young readers from the upper elementary grades through middle school.
